.Alan Pardew: Newcastle will buy big-money stars in summer
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has confirmed he has been given the green light to spend some serious money, after Cheik Tiote became the first current player to benefit with a new multi-million-pound, six-year contract.
More to come: Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has promised to buy more players in the summer
The Toon boss has said club owner Mike Ashley is ready to reinvest the funds created by Andy Carroll’s £35million sale to Liverpool, pointing specifically to today's announcement that Ivorian midfielder Tiote has committed until 2017.
Pardew confirmed he will also be active in the transfer market - suggesting several big-money targets have already been identified for the summer ahead.
The short of it is that we will be signing players in the summer, for sure,’ he said.
‘The most important thing is Mike's a supporter and he wants his team to be exciting and wants to get excited about the prospects of the club.
So it's a two-fold situation here, and I'm leaning on his passion for the team to get more money out of him and use as much money as I can.’
In a sign of things to come perhaps, the Magpies announced Tiote, 24, had signed a bumper six-year deal while assistant manager John Carver has also committed for five years.
Cheick Tiote has signed a new six-year contract at Newcastle (PA)
Senior players at Newcastle including Joey Barton and Jonas Gutierrez had expressed concern at the club's lack of interest in signing players during January, but their fears will have been eased by the latest news.
Barton could be the next to benefit, with his contract due to expire in 18 months' time and it’s now unlikely he’ll have to take a pay cut to stay at the club.
According to reports, he has even offered to slash up to £1million from his current wages in order to stay at St James’ Park for another three years.
Pleased with extending Tiote’s tenure at the club, Pardew said: ‘To be fair Mike’s gone and said 'let's get this guy done,' because after Andy Carroll he wanted to make sure that he sent a message to the fans that he is here, he is keeping his eye firmly on the club and he wants to build the club.
'This is a big step towards that.
We're trying to do the best we can and for our fans to have this player secured for this length of time gives us some insurance.
We're hoping [Tiote] continues to play at the level he's been at, he's been absolutely brilliant.’
Tiote arrived at Tyneside from FC Twente in the summer and has been a revelation this season.
The Ivory Coast international announced his presence in the top-flight with a stunning volleyed equaliser in Newcastle’s memorable 4-4 comeback against Arsenal three weeks ago.
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